Located at 1350 - 18th Street Canadian franchise Cora is now open for business. Open most days from 6:00 am - 4:00 pm Cora features a larger menu that expected. https://www.chezcora.com/en/menu/ Lots of room to meet with your friends and or family. Cora has 140 franchises in Canada and 4 in Manitoba.    

For the past 2 weeks, the people of Brandon have been enjoying a taste of Germany. Ollie’s European Market opened on November 1st and since then customers have been feasting on classic European food like Schnitzel, Rouladen and Bratwurst. Steffen Spiess, one of the owners of Ollie’s says they are overwhelmed and unbelievably thankful for the support they have received thus far. Ollie’s is located at 363 1st St, in the same building where an old Brandon favorite, Hansel & Gretel Schnitzel House used to operate. Ollie’s offers the same great Schnitzel that was served at Hansel & Gretel, and you can get platters of it for 2-8 people available dine in or takeout. The restaurant is currently open 11-6, but they are hoping to extend the hours very shortly. They offer a special lunch menu from 11-3 with lunch favourites like ghoulash soup and Bratwurst on a bun. In addition to the hot menu items that are available for lunch & dinner, you can get mouthwatering homemade desserts like Apple Strudel and Frankfurter Kranz. The restaurant isn’t the only thing you will find there, because they also have a market where you can purchase their 9 different brats and other European foods and spices including German chocolate.  

As the cold weather begins to roll in, CAA Manitoba (CAA MB) is encouraging Manitobans to prepare themselves and their vehicles accordingly for the winter season. “All too often, motorists wait until the first snowfall before preparing their vehicles for winter driving,” says Nadia Matos, manager, external communications for CAA Manitoba. “Now is the time to get your winter tires on and check that your car battery will last the winter months. Even a fully charged battery can lose power when the temperature dips below 0° Celsius.” CAA Manitoba has compiled a list of winter readiness tips for Manitobans to help them prepare for the winter season. • Install winter tires for better traction – On cold and snowy roads winter tires can help reduce your breaking distance by up to 25 per cent. Members can call CAA before Nov. 15 to have our mobile tire service change them for you at home for a fee. • Test your car battery - If necessary, replace it before it fails. Even a fully charged battery can lose up to 30 per cent charge in temperatures below zero. CAA Manitoba will test Members’ batteries free of cost during a service call. • Ensure you have an emergency car kit – Your kit should have water, non-perishable food, jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, batteries, waterproof matches, candles, and cat litter to help create traction under your tires. Add extra mitts, hats, socks and footwear to your emergency kit. • Have your brakes checked - If you’ve noticed any change in the feel of your brakes, or if they’re squealing or grinding, it may be time to have them serviced. With black ice and unpredictable weather, having good brakes can mean the difference between stopping and sliding. • Check your block heater- When you park– is your outdoor plug drawing power? Is your extension cord working with no missing prongs or exposed wires? • Check your lighting system - Make sure all your interior and exterior lights are working. For safe driving, ensure your headlights are aimed correctly. • Top up your fluids - Keep extra fluid in your trunk. Make sure it’s rated for -40ºC. Don’t let your gas drop below half full. • Inspect your wiper blade – Check the condition of your blades if you notice streaking on the windshield. Check for fraying or cracking and remove worn wiper blades and replace them with new ones. • Ensure you have the appropriate winter tools - Keep an ice scraper, small shovel and snow brush handy in your car at all times. While it’s important to make sure your vehicle is ready to go, it’s also important for drivers and passengers to be prepared in case of an emergency or if you are stranded. Some additional ways to be prepared include: Have a cell phone battery bank and keep it on you, as well as a charging cable that connects your phone to your vehicle. • Download and register for the CAA app and keep your CAA membership card in your wallet or vehicle so you always know how to contact CAA Manitoba if you are stranded. • Check Manitoba 511.ca for road conditions and closures if you head into a rural area. • Always tell your loved ones where you plan to go and what your route is before leaving on a longer trip in your vehicle. “Member safety is always our top priority at CAA Manitoba,” says Matos. “There’s no better time than the present to ensure you, your loved ones and your vehicle are ready to drive safely this winter season.” For more information about driving safely in winter conditions, please visit our Safe Winter Driving page at caamanitoba.com.

Destination Canada recently announced the launch of Field to Fork, a Saskatchewan-Manitoba agritourism project, which will include the city of Brandon and surrounding area. Field to Fork is part of the Destination Canada Tourism Corridor Strategy Program, which aims to contribute to a more resilient tourism industry via accelerated destination development of multiple corridors across Canada. The corridor program will invigorate Saskatchewan and Manitoba’s tourism landscape, enticing visitors to discover the area’s diverse regions and contributing to a more dynamic and competitive tourism industry, states a Destination Canada press release issued late last month. As one of the largest and most productive agriculture regions in the world, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are primed to become global agritourism leaders. In Manitoba alone, the agriculture and agri-food sector directly contributed 7.2 per cent of provincial gross domestic product (GDP) and 5.1 per cent of provincial jobs or 37,015 direct jobs in 2023, according to Manitoba.ca. As the first-ever corridor that includes a culinary focus, Field to Fork will be developed with support from the Culinary Tourism Alliance with gateway cities including: Winnipeg, Brandon, Saskatoon and Regina. Visitors can gain a greater understanding and awareness of where our food comes from in Canada through farm-to-table culinary experiences, educational workshops, Indigenous agritourism and festivals. Agritourism also provides an opportunity for those attending business-related meetings or conventions to learn about industrial processes, their impact on society and the environment, and their role in shaping the economy. “Whether it’s annual events such as Manitoba Ag Days, which draw significant attendance numbers from outside the province, or culinary expertise with several local establishments showcasing local ingredients which are grown right in our own backyard, our city will greatly benefit from this corridor,” said Lanny Stewart, director of marketing and communications for Brandon Tourism. “This Field to Fork concept will generate a new, sustainable level of tourism that, in my opinion, could rival any agritourism sector around the world.”   Photo Credit - Ken Gillespie

So over the weekend it was well kind of boring and was doing accounting and schedule stuff and watching YouTube videos.  And a flash came over me to come up with a new monthly feature called Bits and Bites.   For the record I am kind of addicted to those things ..... great snack. Local business and news stories from Brandon. Highly anticipated Cora Breakfast and Lunch on 18th Street will open before the end of 2024. Vionell Holdings is in the process of expanding Rotary Villas and have a show suite available to see right now.   Also another Vionell project is the Edge 2 Building should be open July 1st. Darcy Willey new venture North America's first Hologram Zoo on Park Ave. should be open soon.  On line bookings and more info please refer to - https://www.facebook.com/nexgenfec KFC on the North Hill has reduced hours of operations from 24 hours a day to 9 am - midnight. Mobile Tech Lab located in the Corral Centre is now closed until further notice. Former Florida Panther second round pick and Brandon Wheat King defencemen Colby Robak has left Murray's to now be a full time trainer at FIT on 18th street.   Robak told BDNMB.CA that he is going to use the most modern methods plus some of the old school ideas to training his clients.   Former owner of FIT Jim Frederickson was a major influence on Colby. Photo Courtesy of C Train and Colleen Robak Any ideas please send your comments to darryl@bdnmb.ca or dwolski@2112hockeyagency.com